Chapter 10: Second Chance

"Killian, wait."

He was about to open the door, but Emma stopped him.

"It's going to be alright, love. But we don't have to tell them now if you don't want to."

"I do want to tell them but…" She raised her shoulders in a way Killian could only describe as adorable. "Should I be used to be the center of attention by now? Because I'm not."

"Well, you've been mine for more than a year," he said while brushing a blonde curl behind her ear and a giggle escaped her.

"I don't mind being your center of attention." Holding the lapels of his coat, she closed the distance and looked him in the eye. "I can even say I quite enjoy it. But that's because it's you, and we're often just the two of us. In this room, it won't be like that."

Killian and Emma were in the corridor, standing right behind the door leading to the dining room where her parents, Liam, Ariel and Henry were supposed to be already waiting for them for lunch. She tiptoed to press her lips against his own, and determinedly looked at the door.

"Alright, I'm ready."

"Are my lips that powerful?" Killian chuckled.

"Yes. Not just your lips. You, all of you. Come."

She took his hand, opened the door and led him inside.

Her parents, her son, the sailor and the mermaid were not at the table like Emma had expected them to be, but were gathered in the couches around the coffee table by the fireplace. Their entrance didn't go unnoticed: the conversations stopped as they all turned to them. Snow stood up and brought them two glasses.

"It is so nice to have you both back with us!" she said with a bright smile.

"I…" Staring at the glass her mother was handing her, Emma trailed off and decided that taking the glass and keeping it untouched would be easier than explaining why she had to refuse.

"We were waiting for you to toast your return!"

Snow gestured for them to join the others around the table. Slipping his left arm in Emma's back and catching her attention, Killian raised a meaningful eyebrow. Her gaze shifting between his eyes and his encouraging smile, she finally nodded and took a deep breath before addressing the rest of the room.

"Before we toast anything… There is something that Killian and I would like to announce."

Instantly, Emma felt the intensity of the five pairs of eyes eagerly staring at her, besides Killian's reassuring gaze. She focused on Henry, who was looking at her with a bright smile, making it obvious that he knew what this was all about. Thinking of what she was about to say, she didn't catch the meaningful exchange between Killian and her father; how Charming inquiringly looked at him and how he lightly shook his head. Emma scanned the room and lightly bit her lip to stop her smile from spreading even more.

"I'm… a baby's home, like Killian called it." Lightly scratching his back, she glanced at him and a wave of love and tenderness washed over her. Again, she turned to her family. "We're having a baby."

"Aww, Emma!"

Ariel was the first one to react but Charming was the first one to reach for his daughter. He didn't say anything but Emma could see in his smile and in his eyes an emotion reminding her of Killian's on the previous night. He hugged her, cradling the back of her head.

"This is amazing," he said in a low voice as he pulled away. He imitated Liam by patting Killian's shoulder and flashed him and his daughter a smile. "Congratulations to you both!"

Killian raised an inquiring eyebrow and his mouth quirked at a corner. "You know, mate… I haven't done much, I just-"

"Killian," Emma interrupted him with a light laugh, softly nudging him in the ribs.

"What?" he chuckled. "Love, I mean, you're the one to congratulate. You are the baby's home."

The love in his eyes and the reverence with which he said those words momentarily lost her, but her musings were soon stopped as Ariel enthusiastically hugged her.

"Emma, that's fantastic! How do you feel?"

"I…" She paused to consider the question and her smile widened. "I can't think of a moment in my life when I've felt better than now."

The euphoria provoked by the news was infectious, leading her to mean her words. Remembering that the little being she and Killian had created was growing inside her made a surge of love wash over her. She would have unleashed this love by throwing herself in his arms if it hadn't been for Henry, who had just come to him.

"Mum told me to keep it secret in New York! Are you happy? Did you listen to…" The boy trailed off and turned to Emma. "Mum, did you make him listen to the recording?"

"Aye, she did! And she told me you were the one thinking of recording it on the device. Thanks, lad!"

Henry's smile brightened. "Mum cried when we listened to it in New York. Did you?"

"Perhaps," he said with a crooked smile.

"He did," Emma confirmed and her son chuckled. Her gaze shifting between her two men, she sighed with delight. "Come here, the two of you."

She pulled both of them into a hug and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. She opened them when she realized someone had yet to come to her; Snow was watching them with a proud smile and teary eyes, standing aside because she obviously didn't want to interrupt them. Pulling away from the hug, Emma let Killian and Henry resume their conversation and stepped toward her mother, who closed the distance and cupped her face in her hands.

"I knew it!" Snow said with a bright smile.

She slightly opened her mouth. "You did?"

"Yes," she confirmed, still cupping her daughter's face in her hands and admiring her.

"How? Since when?"

"Yesterday, during lunch, you were thoughtfully looking down and keeping your hands over your belly. Who does that, other than mums-to-be?"

Amazed by how perceptive her mother was, Emma bit her lip and, a second later, found herself in a tight hug.

"I am so happy for you!" Snow pulled away and brushed a blonde curl behind her ear. "Do you know when-"

"The baby will be born in June," Emma answered, easily guessing what the upcoming question was. "Three days ago, I've seen a doctor. She said the baby was alright."

"We need to get you a doctor here. There's one living in the village. We can invite him to live at the castle until the time comes. We're going to take care of you and your baby." For a moment, they silently looked each other in the eye, until Snow added, "Time for a toast!"

"How are you feeling, love?" Killian asked, smoothly coming to stand by her side as soon as her mother left. "You seem to handle being the center of attention pretty well."

"They all reacted so well. Our baby is so loved already!"

"Our baby will be the most loved baby of all the realms."

Drowning in his eyes, Emma sighed with delight and placed a hand in the nape of his neck. With a move of the head, he indicated Snow who was trying to get her attention before proposing a toast. Emma pretended to listen but she didn't hear what her mother had to say and, gazing at Killian again, she drifted.

"Imagine the baby looks just like you," she said dreamily. "Most beautiful baby ever."

A chuckle escaped him as he was not expecting to hear this, and he lightly shook his head. "Love…"

"You can't disagree, you know I'm right. That's too bad you don't have pictures of when you were a kid, I'm sure you were adorable."

"Perhaps," he smirked. "But I still disagree, because I think it would be a shame if the baby doesn't take after you."

They clank glasses and, remembering she couldn't drink, she handed hers to Killian. "I can't drink."

"What do you mean?"

"The baby. I can't drink any alcohol while I'm pregnant."

His eyebrows shot up. "You can't have any rum until June?"

She shook her head and he looked concerned.

"Don't worry," she reassured. "I'll be fine as long as I can have you."

This was enough to make him smile again. "Well, this pirate comes with an unlimited availability for you!" He looked down at her glass and became more serious again. "We need to find you something else. Lad?"

Sitting on the couch, Henry turned to Killian instantly. "Yeah?"

"What is it that you're drinking?"

"Pumpkin juice!"

Killian made a face. "Is that any good?"

"Yes! Do you want to try?" Henry handed his glass to Killian who refused it.

"No thanks, it's not for me, it's for-"

"Is everything alright?" Snow asked.

"Aye, we're just looking for another drink for Emma."

"I can't drink alcohol," she completed.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," her mother apologized. "I should have thought of that."

"No, don't apologize, it's alright. You weren't even supposed to know."

"I'm going to get you another drink. Is pumpkin juice okay? We have other beverages if you prefer."

"Pumpkin juice will do just fine. But I can go and get it myself."

"No, no, no," Snow refused. "You stay here and I'll get you a drink. Let me be a mother and take care of you, even if that's not much."

In the next days, Killian and Emma got accustomed to royal life. More people than they thought lived in the castle; maids, cooks, knights and royal counselors all had a room there. Like Snow had told her daughter, they invited the doctor to settle in. At first reluctant to leave his house which was in a relatively remote part of the village, the man named Victor Whale had finally agreed, but had showed himself to be rather demanding, asking for all his equipment and belongings to be moved to the castle.

Finding him to be authoritative and stubborn, Killian disliked him and watched him closely whenever he interacted with Emma. Once the doctor was settled, he met the two of them to talk about his role during the upcoming months. Taking in the information about details he had not considered, Killian frowned.

"Do you mean you'll see her undressed?"

"I'll have to if you want me to help your girlfriend."

"My princess," Killian corrected with his jaw clenching, despising the doctor's condescending tone. "She's more than my girlfriend. She's my true love."

"Doesn't change a thing. Unless you feel like helping her give birth yourself, I will need to see her."

Looking daggers at him, Killian relaxed only when he felt Emma's hand on his shoulder.

"Killian, it's alright," she reassured him.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? Will you be comfortable enough?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Killian nodded and the conversation resumed.

A few days later, they were having lunch when a bluish ball of light appeared out of nowhere and floated in front of Henry. Charming and Killian were fast to unsheathe their swords and stand by the boy's side. But the ball didn't move and a familiar voice came out of it.

"Henry," said Regina's voice. "I will come tomorrow. Do not worry, I won't harm anyone. I just want to talk to you."

The glowing ball vanished and they all looked at each other.

On the next day, they were ready to welcome the Evil Queen: as soon as sentinels spotted her outside the castle, Snow-White, Charming, Killian, Emma and Henry went to wait for her in the throne room.

"Remember," Henry reminded them. "You must let me speak. That's our best chance."

"Are you still sure you want to do this, lad?" Killian asked.

"Yes."

"Then, we won't interfere," Snow said.

She and her husband walked up the three steps and sat in the two thrones. Standing right in front of them, at the foot of the stairs, Emma and Killian were right behind Henry. All were waiting in silence. At last, the doors opened and Regina, surrounded by two guards, entered the room.

"What the hell?" Emma asked when she saw her.

The Evil Queen didn't look like usual: instead of a dark dress, she was wearing a red dress with a touch of silver and her long black hair was down, which was making her look shorter and less threatening.

Looking irritated by the two guards walking by her side, Regina heard Emma's comment and cast her a despising look.

"Do you prefer my usual style?"

A cloud of purple smoke hid her from view and, when she reappeared, she was dressed like she had been on the first time she had met Emma.

The sight tied her stomach into a knot. "No, it was fine as it was."

Regina changed back into the red dress and glared at them. "I seem to recall mentioning I only wanted to talk to Henry. Not to summon the royal council."

"We're not leaving him alone with you."

Henry took one step forward. "I will talk to you. But I'll repeat to them everything you tell me anyway, so you may as well speak in front of them."

"Henry…"

"You said you would not harm anyone. Is it true?" the boy asked.

"Yes."

Henry glanced back at Emma who nodded, feeling that the Evil Queen was not lying and currently meant no harm. He addressed Regina again. "What is it that you want?"

"You. I want you to come back home. I want us to be a family again."

"My home is right here, with my family."

"I'm your mother!"

Judging her tone as more threatening, Killian automatically placed his hand on Henry's shoulder and pulled him back against him.

"Killian, that's fine," the boy reassured. "She won't hurt me."

The pirate unwillingly loosened his grip but still kept his hand on his shoulder.

"Emma is my mother," Henry replied to Regina.

"She gave you up. I was the one to take care of you all these years."

"She had her reasons. She wanted to give me my best chance."

"So did I! Henry, all I did was for you. To make the kingdom as great as it can be for when you reach the age of becoming king."

"You didn't need to bother. I am not interested in being a king."

"Henry. I want you to come back. You will be safe. I've never treated you badly and I never will."

"But you've always treated everyone else badly," the boy retorted. "Even when I told you to stop. You're making everyone suffer, even those I love most. How could you do this to Emma and Killian? How could you pretend to be someone else and keep them apart for weeks?"

"They took you away from me!"

"I'm the one who left."

"I need you to come back."

"Why?" Henry asked.

"Because I want to change and I need you for that. Without you, I have no reason to become a better person. I will be a villain and keep hurting everyone unless you come back."

"Enough!" Killian interrupted, stepping between them and hiding Henry behind him. This was too much for him. "Aren't you ashamed, after all the wrong you've done, to come and blackmail a child like this?"

"This is a conversation between him and I."

A muscle visibly tensing in his jaw, the pirate looked daggers at her.

"Killian…" Henry stood by his side to face Regina again. "I'm sorry, but I do not want to come with you. I want to be with Emma and Killian."

Regina rolled her eyes. "I know. This is why they can all come with you."

"Oh, so that's what this is all about: an invitation! Should we expect to be accommodated in the dungeons?" Killian asked, earning another glare from the Evil Queen.

"For my son, I will do whatever it takes."

"He does not love you," Killian said slowly while stepping forward, only leaving a short distance between him and the Evil Queen. "No one ever will. Even when you're hidden under someone else's appearance, you are unlovable: I spent weeks trying, and it didn't work. You are alone and unloved, and you will always be."

Again, Regina glared at him with gritted teeth, and threateningly lifted her hand, obviously ready to light up a fireball.

"Go on," Killian said defiantly. "Show him how easily you can get out of control."

"Stop!" Emma intervened. "No harm needs to be done. Regina, are you really inviting us all to live at your castle?"

"Yes."

"But we can't leave our castle and our people," Snow took part in the conversation.

"You can get your crown back," Regina said.

Emma's mouth fell slightly open. "You'd give up your crown?"

"I just want to be with Henry."

"And we're supposed to believe you?" Killian asked. "Because your outfit making you less threatening doesn't mean you're not still that same monster inside. What says we can trust you?"

"Nothing. You'll have to choose whether you can or cannot by yourself."

"And I choose not to."

"Killian…" Emma softly took his hand and stood by his side. "Regina, you had Henry before, and you were evil. Why would having him now make you a better person? What changed?"

It was obvious that not glaring at Emma was costing her a lot, but her voice was calm and steady when she answered. "Lately, I realized that love could be enough. Henry is all I need."

"How did you realize that?" Henry asked.

Emma caught her glancing at Killian and frowned.

"I had a reminder of what it was like to be loved and…"

"You fell in love with him," Emma interrupted, her gaze shifting between her and Killian.

"But I did not love you," he completed. "Never."

"You pretended to," Regina retorted.

"Alright," Charming intervened. "Where does this all lead us?"

Henry turned around to face him. "I'm ready to give her a second chance."

"Lad…"

"Henry, you can't do that," Charming said.

"Actually, I think he can," said Snow. "David, don't you think this is the right thing to do?"

"I agree," Emma added and turned to Regina. "We should give you a second chance."

"Emma!" Killian pulled her to him. "How can you consider giving that monster a second chance, after everything she did to us? To your parents? Because of her, you grew up without them."

"I know." She pulled him aside, far enough from the others to be out of earshot. "Killian, look. She's not lying, I can feel it. She really means it when she says she wants to change. If Henry is ready to give her a second chance, I think that's what we should do. Imagine if it works. Imagine she truly finds a way to redemption."

"Imagine she doesn't."

"Then, we will have tried. All I'm saying is that not giving her a second chance would only send her back into the darkness. For once, she's willing to be a good person, or at least a better one, and I think she needs to be encouraged."

"You're saying you're ready to forgive everything she did to you. To us. To your family."

"What she did is in the past," Emma said. "All I care about is our future. Our family. You and I, Henry and the baby. If there's a chance for her to be good and let us live in peace, I want to take it."

Killian sighed and Emma guessed she had convinced him. "If that's what you want, I'm with you, love."

Emma quickly kissed his lips and walked back to Regina.

"I have another offer," she said while glancing at her parents, checking they were not showing any sign of disapproval. "If all you want is to be with Henry, why wouldn't you come to live here?"

Charming didn't seem to enjoy the idea. Snow looked much more supportive. But Regina laughed.

"I am not coming to live here."

"Why not?" Killian asked defiantly. "You said you were ready to give up your crown."

"I am not coming to live here," she repeated.

"Which means you're not ready to do anything for the boy, unlike you said," the pirate pointed out. "Which makes me think that all of this is a lie. Prove us you want to change."

"Don't you think the way I'm proceeding proves it? I could have come back from New York with Henry. I saw him in Central Park, I could have come back to my castle with him."

"You mean you could have kidnapped him. Best way to lose him forever," Killian commented.

"I know. This is why I didn't do it."

"I'm still not convinced."

"And what do you need, pirate? Do you want me to erase all your memories?"

"So that I would forget what a monster you are? Definitely not."

"I don't want to forget either," added Emma. "Everything we've been through led us to where we are. Every experience matters."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Fine. I cannot undo all my evil deeds but there is one of them I can undo. I had enchanted a sword so that it could go through flesh and bones. Killian, that sword is the one that took out your hand."

Emma saw her make a move of the hand and the next thing she heard was Killian's gasp. Her mouth fell slightly open when she saw his hook had been replaced by a hand which he was comparing with his other one.

"Killian…" she called in a low voice before slipping her hands up his palms and intertwining their fingers.

Henry took advantage of their momentary distraction to speak again. "Alright, if it's me that you want, I'll spend some time with you."

"Lad," Killian interrupted, but Emma stopped him and they both watched Henry, who went on.

"But you have to stop hurting the ones I love. Promise me you will never hurt anyone again."

"I wish I could make this promise to you, but I can't," Regina said. "What I can promise you is that I'll try to be better. For you."

"If you can't promise me you will never hurt Emma and Killian, or my grandparents, then I can't give you a second chance."

"I won't hurt them again. All I want is redemption. I just want to be with you."

"If you truly love me, you will let me come only when I want to, and spend the rest of my time with Emma and Killian," the boy negotiated. "Tomorrow, I can spend the day with you. You can apparate here and…"

"Apparate?" Regina repeated.

"Teleport here in a cloud of smoke," he clarified. "You can take me back with you. And bring me back. We could go horseriding."

"Just one day?"

"For now," Henry said. "Then, if it goes well, we'll see what we do next."

"Tomorrow at dawn, I will come." She didn't wait for any answer and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"You've done great, Henry!" Charming congratulated.

"Aye, good job, lad! You handled that like a real captain!"

A bright smile lit up the boy's features.

"Killian, how do you feel?" Emma asked, playing with his fingers and caressing the back of his hands with her thumbs.

"I'm great. I can finally feel something with my left hand." He slipped his hands up her arms, up her neck, and cupped her face. "If you knew how many times I wished I could hold you like this!"

Her hands covered his own and she kissed his palm before playing with his fingers.

Emma and Snow had managed to convince her men that giving Regina a second chance was the best thing to do. Her visit dated from the start of the week. Henry had spent two days with her and she seemed to behave, letting the royal family hope that she truly was on the way to redemption.

Snow and Charming were still getting to know their daughter, Killian and Henry, and it was not rare for them to spend afternoons or evenings talking by the fire or playing games. Liam and Ariel were also visiting them from time to time.

When Henry saw that Emma was spending some time with her mother, he went to see Killian. He knew where to find him: when the pirate was on his own, he was usually in his room or in the library. On that afternoon, he was on the balcony of the library, obviously lost in thoughts and, by the look on his face, it appeared these thoughts were not joyful. It was not the first time: on the evening following Regina's visit, Henry had already found him absent-mindedly looking through the window. Seeing the Evil Queen had rekindled his memories from New York and, with them, his guilt.

"Killian?" The boy called as he stepped outside.

Every hint of trouble disappeared from his features and he faked a smile. "Hey! Here for some more sword fighting?"

"No, that's not why I'm here." Thinking it could actually help cheer him up, Henry changed his mind. "But we can sword-fight if you want to!"

"You're a tough lad, but we've done enough today, you need to get some rest," Killian teased while playfully nudging the boy's shoulder. His smile was genuine now. "What's bringing you here? Do you fancy playing a game?"

"Not now. I wanted to ask you something." Henry looked Killian in the eye, looking for the confirmation that he was ready to hear his question. When the man nodded encouragingly, the boy went on, "When will you propose to mum?"

"Ah!" His smile faded when he looked away to gaze at the ocean. "I can't, right now. I need to wait."

"Why?" The boy asked but the man said nothing and kept staring at the horizon. "Are you still feeling guilty? Is it because of that?"

"You're quite perceptive."

"And I'm sorry to say that but you're quite stubborn. I told you that you shouldn't feel like that. Everyone told you. I thought you were alright, now. I thought you had forgiven yourself."

"It's not that easy," Killian said, finally tearing his gaze away from the ocean. "There's still a part of me feeling responsible for what I've done."

"Mum has forgiven you. Actually, she's never blamed you. I've been with her the entire time in New York. She's never blamed you, because she knew it wasn't your fault. You should know that too."

"I know, Henry. You've told me all of that already. Just give me some more time. The fact she forgives me doesn't change the fact that I've hurt her, and you."

The boy sighed as they had already had this conversation: there was nothing new in what Killian was saying, and Henry didn't know what else to say. In his turn, he looked at the horizon.

"I need some time to be sure I deserve her," Killian added.

This was new and the boy instantly turned to the man. "You do deserve her! What happened doesn't change anything, it wasn't your fault!" His voice was much softer and lower when he added, looking Killian in the eye, "What happened doesn't change the fact that you're still the best dad I could ever dream of. And the baby will be very lucky, because she will have you from the start."

Killian lightly shook his head in disbelief before tossing an arm around him and pulling him into a hug.

"You're an amazing lad, do you know that?"

The boy looked up with a bright smile. "Like father, like son."

"Let's go back inside, I'm not letting you catch a cold because of me."

They went back inside and settled down in one of the couches.

"When you talked about the baby, you said she would have me from the start," Killian resumed the conversation. "What makes you think we need to say 'she'?"

"I'd love to have a baby sister."

"Your mum has a preference for a boy."

"I know. She said she wanted the baby to be a mini-Killian," Henry said, amused by the idea.

"Did she say that?" He asked with a chuckle. "A mini-Killian?"

"Yes. But I'm sure you'd love a mini version of mum, right?"

"Whether it's a boy or a girl, I'll be the happiest of all the men."

Henry looked down and Killian tilted his head on the side, feeling that something was bothering him.

"What is it, lad?"

"If it's a boy…" Hesitating to go any further, the boy looked up. "Does that mean I won't be your boy anymore?"

Killian lightly frowned. "What do you mean?"

Henry looked down again and played with his hands. "I'm not truly your son. But the baby will be."

"Henry…" It took Killian a few seconds; he had never imagined the boy could feel like this. Shifting closer to him, he cupped his chin and made him look up. "You will always be my boy, nothing can ever change that. No matter whether it's a boy or a girl, there is no way this baby could ever replace you. There is enough place in my heart for both of you." Looking Henry in the eye, Killian could see he didn't dare to believe. He looked for another way to put it into words. "I may not be your birth father, but I've chosen you; I've chosen to treat you as my son since the first moment when you walked aboard the Jolly Roger. And the baby won't ever change that. Even if it's a boy, it won't make me love you less."

Henry keenly closed the distance between them and hugged Killian. "You really are the best."

"Is this why you're saying you'd prefer a baby sister? Because you were worried a baby boy would sort of replace you?"

Keeping his arms around the man, he looked up at him. "Maybe it helped me decide. But I'd really love to have a baby sister. This way, I would have a little princess to protect, like you with mum. I could teach her many things!" Henry became thoughtful before adding, "But surely I could do that with a baby brother too."

"I can already tell you will be an amazing big brother!" Killian playfully ruffled his hair and offered, indicating the chessboard on the coffee table, "Do you want to play chess?"

"Yes!" Henry replied cheerfully. "And this time, I'm going to win!"

Killian chuckled and cast him a defiant look. "We'll see about that!"